Tag: victim

According to statistics, identity theft is the most common crime in the USA. Most people know what they should do to protect themselves from being victims of identity theft, but they do not know where to start from. However, measures must be taken to avoid being in that situation and below are some useful tips;

Keep Personal Documents In A Safe

It is important to have a personal safe that you can keep your items there because they are necessary documents and they can be used by fraudsters when misplaced. Such items and documents include your credit cards, birth certificate, identification card, passport, and social security documents. Keep them in a deposit box in your safe.

Monitor Your Credit

Ensure that you follow up on your credit reports, and you can go the extra mile of purchasing additional copies of the reports throughout the year for continuous monitoring. You should also place fraud alerts and credit freezes on your account to enhance the level of protection. That way, you will be the one who can use the credit card and if anyone tries to use it, you will get a notification and take the necessary action.

Do Not Reveal Personal Information

Whether you are on the phone or the internet, do not disclose personal information to unverified sources. Do not feel pressured to give out your details if you are having doubts about the source. It is advisable to request for verifying information before you proceed to give out your details so as to prevent identity theft.

Protect Your Computer

You should always have your computer protected because identity thieves can use information from it to carry out their fraudulent activities. Protect it with anti-spyware and anti-virus software. Update them on the regular so that you can remain safe at all times.

Shred Personal Documents

It is advisable to shred personal documents before throwing them away. This is because fraudsters use dumpster diving as a method of obtaining personal information from individuals. Therefore, invest in a shredder and use it to shred personal documents before discarding them. Such documents include personal email, credit card reports, and even receipts.

Remove Yourself From Promotional Lists

Promotional lists include junk mail and pre-approved credit card lists. That is added clutter that is not good for your security. Furthermore, they put you at a high risk of being a victim of identity theft as a stranger could a get a hold of your information.…